Horse & Dragon Brewing Co. will debut its first beers in Fort Collins this week, advancing its May 1 opening at 124 Racquette Drive.

In case you're counting, that's No. 14 for Fort Collins breweries.

The fanfare starts Thursday at The Mayor of Old Town, 632 S. Mason St., with the tapping of Almost Summer Ale — a hoppier, American version of an English-style brew.

"It's a great transition between the thicker, warming beers of winter and the lighter, refreshing ones often favored in summer," said Carol Cochran, who owns Horse & Dragon with her husband, Tim, in an email.

Also on tap at The Mayor will be Horse & Dragon Stout, a year-round staple for the brewery that "should debunk the notion that stouts don't go down well in summer," Cochran said.

Sunday at Tap and Handle, 307 S. College Ave., Almost Summer will be tapped, as will Horse & Dragon's first IPA.

Cochran said she will also bring those beers to two upcoming charity events — the Teaching Tree's Little Plates event Friday at the Northside Aztlan Community Center and the Empowered Parents mental health awareness program event April 28 at the brewery.

For the grand finale, Horse & Dragon will be open from noon to 6 p.m. starting May 1. By then, head brewer Linsey Cornish — previously of Odell Brewing Co. — will likely have a pale ale, a red and a honey-brown ready for tapping.

"So far, they're looking and tasting great, so we're hoping we'll have a good variety by May 1," Cochran said.